Québec-based public pension fund La Caisse announced last Tuesday the renewal of its AI Expertise Program to encourage companies in the province to adopt artificial intelligence to improve growth and productivity.
La Caisse will partner with Vooban—an AI services firm and portfolio company of the fund—to help develop customized support for companies to adopt AI in their operations.
According to a spokesperson for the fund, while its portfolio companies are eligible for the program, it is designed to support La Caisse’s dual mandate: achieving optimal long-term returns and contributing to economic development in Québec. The program was opened to eligible companies last year. Approximately 20 companies from a broad range of sectors participated in the first cohort.
“Renewing the program shows La Caisse’s commitment to making the expertise of its partner network available to local companies to support Québec’s economic development,” said Kim Thomassin, La Caisse’s head of Québec, in a statement.
Companies eligible for the program must have annual sales of at least C$25 million ($18 million), be headquartered in Québec, and “must also demonstrate the capacity to invest in and execute an innovation project, as well as the potential to significantly improve their productivity. Lastly, the type of project targeted must involve a low to moderate level of technological risk,” according to a La Caisse statement.
The program, which begins with an ‘innovation sprint’ from April to September, will first try to identify where AI and automation can create the most value for a company, followed by determining a feasible project. The process then seeks to create a comprehensive plan that could be implemented and achieved in less than two years.
“In collaboration with Vooban, we work with Québec companies to find the most promising opportunities and help them move quickly by deploying solutions that have a strong impact on efficiency, productivity and competitiveness,” Thomassin said in a statement.
La Caisse managed C$496 billion ($364 billion) in assets for several public pension funds and insurance programs in Québec as of June 30, 2025. Its assets under management include C$93 billion invested in Québec, as of December 31, 2024.
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Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), Canada